New Building for River Road/El Camino del Río Elementary

Community meeting Feb. 11: Design & construction update

The design details have been completed and construction is about to begin on a new building for River Road/El Camino del Río Elementary School on West Hilliard Lane.

The school’s aging building is being replaced with an efficient and appealing modern school building, thanks to voters’ approval of the 2013 school bond measure.

The new River Road/El Camino del Río Elementary School building will provide a 21st century learning environment for teachers and their students, who learn to read, write and speak in both English and Spanish.

When the new school opens in fall 2017, it will provide better learning environments, be more secure, and will save energy and cost less to operate than the old building.

Families, neighbors and community members are invited to get an update on the school building replacement project at a community meeting on Thursday, February 11. Participants will see the final design for that school, hear what to expect in the construction schedule, get an update on initial work so far, and have the opportunity to talk with the school principal and members of the design team.

About the school bond measure

In May 2013, voters in Eugene School District 4J resoundingly passed a $170 million school bond measure to provide funding for 4J school improvements, including replacing four of the district’s oldest school buildings with new buildings at the same sites.

New buildings for Howard Elementary School and Roosevelt Middle School are well underway in their construction and will open in fall 2016. The new River Road/El Camino del Río Elementary School and Arts & Technology Academy (at the site of the former Jefferson Middle School building) will open in fall 2017. Sustainable building concepts that conserve energy and maximize the wise use of resources are incorporated into every new school building.

The bond measure also is paying for improvements at every 4J school, including new student technology, updated instructional materials, security upgrades, building repairs, and more.